excruciating

/ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [ɪkskrˈuʃiˌetɪŋ] /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [ɪkskrˈuʃiˌetɪŋ] /ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ/ (ame, mw)

excruciating — adjective

  • excruciatingpositive
  • more excruciatingcomparative
  • most excruciatingsuperlative

1. causing extremely strong physical pain that is almost impossible to bear

1.形容詞B2
釋義

causing extremely strong physical pain that is almost impossible to bear

例句

After twisting his ankle in the match, Aarav felt excruciating pain shoot through his leg.

excruciating + noun (pain)

The burn on the patient's arm was so excruciating that she could not bear anyone to touch it.

so + excruciating + that-clause

同義詞
  • agonizing

    similar intensity, but 'agonizing' often emphasises prolonged mental or physical struggle rather than a sharp sensation

  • torturous

    suggests deliberate, drawn-out infliction of pain, like actual torture; less common in everyday speech

  • searing

    focuses on a sudden, intense, burning-type sensation (e.g. searing heat, searing pain)

反義詞
  • mild

    describes pain or discomfort that is slight and easy to ignore

  • soothing

    describes something that relieves pain rather than causing it

文法句型

excruciating + [pain / agony / discomfort] noun

be + excruciating

so + excruciating + that-clause

用法筆記

Frequently used before nouns describing physical injuries or sensations (pain, ache, burn, wound). 'Excruciating' itself already implies an extreme degree, so intensifiers like 'very' are not used with it.

常見錯誤

❌The pain was very excruciating.
✅The pain was excruciating.
💡'Excruciating' already means extremely painful, so 'very' is redundant and unnatural.
❌I feel excruciating today.
✅I feel excruciating pain today.
💡'Excruciating' is an adjective that must modify a noun; it does not describe how a person feels directly.

2. so boring, embarrassing, or unpleasant that it is very hard to experience or sit

2.形容詞C1
釋義

so boring, embarrassing, or unpleasant that it is very hard to experience or sit through

例句

The tax-law lecture was excruciating, and more than half the students fell asleep.

Watching Asher try to explain his mistake was excruciating for everyone in the room.

gerund subject + be + excruciating

同義詞
  • unbearable

    broader in meaning; can apply to physical, emotional, or situational discomfort, and is slightly less intense

  • cringeworthy

    informal; used only for embarrassing situations, not for boring ones

  • interminable

    focuses on the sense of endlessness; used mainly for boring, long events rather than embarrassing ones

反義詞
  • entertaining

    describes something that holds one's interest and gives enjoyment

  • comfortable

    describes a situation or experience that feels easy and relaxed, not awkward

文法句型

be + excruciating

find + object + excruciating

excruciating + [silence / boredom / embarrassment]

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense applies to mental or emotional discomfort, not physical pain. Common with nouns describing events (lecture, ceremony, silence) or feelings (boredom, embarrassment).

常見錯誤

❌I was excruciating at the party.
✅The party was excruciating.
💡'Excruciating' describes the experience or event, not the person's internal feeling.
❌The movie was excruciating boring.
✅The movie was excruciatingly boring.
💡Use the adverb form 'excruciatingly' before adjectives, not the adjective 'excruciating'.